Convertible automobile body



Filed March 24, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 15, 1939 J, F O 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 W I. P" 2Z6.

2 103 j .2 96 0a 10] Z06 4 2 1013 J07 Z0! (96 v 6 W (WWW- Filed March 24, 1938 Q ZWM Aug. 15, 1939 J. FALceN 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 i W N I ZERO/WM 0 774 604 Aug. 1939 J. FALCON 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. FALCON CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Aug. 15, 1939 Filed March 24, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 15, 1939 .1. FALCON CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 15, 1939 FALCON 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 15, 1939 J FALCON 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BQDY Filed March 24, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 dkpo/v/m 0 1 co/v J. FALCON CONVERTI BLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1938 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 grime/whom 55040440 fancy,

5, 1939 J. FALCON 2,169,340

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed March 24, 1938 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Aug. 15, 1939 CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Jeronimo Falcon, Buenos Aires, Argentina Application March 24, 1938, Serial No. 197,947 2 2 Claims. (Cl. 296-117) A principal object of the invention is to provide a convertible top construction for an automobile or similar vehicle which will facilitate the quick and easy conversion of an automobile from an trating one position of the valve controlling the transmission of fluid.

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating another position of the valve.

open to a closed type and vice versa. Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a still 5 A further object of the invention is to provide further position of the valve.

a construction which is exceedingly simple in Figure 3 is an elevational view with parts in form and eflicient in operation so that a single section illustrating the means for locking the top p y easily and q y anipulate the to the windshield and also the means for locking top between its extended, collapsed and interthe sides of the lazy tongs. m mediate position with a minimum of effort. Figure 4 is a partial side elevational view with A still further object of the invention is to proparts in section illustrating the means for t vide an intermediate position for the top whereby 'ing the lazy tongs and showing the lazy tongs the automobile may be converted to a so-called in extended position. town car arrangement. Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the parts A feature of the invention is also the provision in collapsed position. v of means operable from the dashboard for auto- Figure 6 is a partial side elevational view parmatically ng and extending the top cons r ticularly illustrating the manner in which the tion. parts are locked in order to hold the same in the A further object of the invention is the proviintermediate position and thereby secure the town sion of a unique five way valve for operating the car appearance for the top. fluid power means for ra s g the p and Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the sliding Cu atin the flu d me during the nonflpemfing locking bolt used in locking the top in intermeperiods. diate position.

A Still further object of the invention is the Figure 7 15 a cross sectional view of a, modified pr v of new nd improved means for looking construction for placing the operating fluid under the top at its extreme forwardly extended posipressure t d t provision of means f manipulating Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the Such kwkmg meanssection line 8-8 of Figure 7.

A further feature of the invention is the pro- Figure 9 1 a cross sectional View t parts in vision of a locking means for locking the top in elevation of the fiv way va1ve its intermediate position. I Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the A still further ob ect of the inven ion is the line |l| m of Figure 9. provision of a latching means for locking the top Figure 11 is a partial plan View of the windin the positions of the top between the inter- Shield locking means mediate and the fully fxtended posmon Figure 12 is a further partial front elevational means whereby such latching means is automati- View with portions in section f the windshield cally released when the top is in intermediate locking means and the operating means thereion position and keeping such latching means out of Figure 13 is a side elevational View of one of operation during the positions between the interthe receiving sockets for the windshield locking mediate position and the fully collapsed position. means A further feature gg invention is the 3; Figure 14 is a front elevational view of a part vision of a new type 0 ws in connection wi the lazy tongs construction whereby pinching of of the side lockmg means for lockmg thg lazy the fabric covering the top is prevented. With the tongs above and other objects in view as will become Figure 15 is a top plant View of one of the lazy apparent from the detailed description below some tong extensions used preferred embodiments of the invention are illus- Figure 16 is a side EIQVaHPBaI VIEW 0f the lazy trated in the drawings, in which tongs extension shown in Figure 15.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of an auto- F e is a front devotional v w of another mobile showing the invention applied thereto. form of lazy tongs extension or bow used.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the Figure 18 is a Side elevational View Of the form fluid actuating means for raising the automobile of bow shown in Figure 17. top. Figure 19 is a side elevational view of a further Figure 1. is a partial cross sectional view illusform of lazy tongs extension or bow used.

Figure 20 is a front elevational view of the form of bow shown in Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a partial front elevational view of the side locking means utilized in connection with the operating means disclosed particularly in Figure 14.

Figure 22 is a side elevational view of a portion of the automobile body with a modified construction of the top raising means and a modified construction of the fluid operating means.

Figure 23 is a side elevational view upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the top raising mechanism of the modification illustrated in Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a partial side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 23 in collapsed position.

Figure 25 is a plan view of the four-way valve used in the modification illustrated in Figure 22.

Figure 26 is a cross sectional view taken on the section line 2826 of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a front plan view of the three-way valve used in the modification of Figure 2 2.

Figure 28 is a cross sectional view with parts in elevation taken on the section line 28-48 of Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified operating cylinder construction, and,

Figure 30 is a plan view of the plate attached to the end of the plunger reciprocating in the operating cylinder shown in Figure 29.

In the drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts I designates generally the body of a vehicle, which may be of any desired construction, preferably having an upright member such as a windshield 2 at its forward end which serves as a support for the forward end of the top structure which is indicated generally by the reference character 3. The dashboard of the vehicle is shown at 4 having mounted thereon the valve 5 with an operating connection 6 easily available to the driver of the vehicle. The valve 5 is of a particular construction which will be described more in detail hereinbelow.

The power operating means for raising the top construction comprises a pump 1 which may be of any desired type but is preferably of the rotary type and is driven from a rotating part of the engine of the automobile. The pump 1 may be directly connected with the rotating part of the engine so as to be driven at all times during the operation of the engine or a clutch 8 may be interposed in such drive so that the rotary pump 1 may be disconnected from the engine at any desired time. In such case the clutch 8 comprises the cooperating elements 9 and I8 with the usual meshing cone-shaped discs and the element 9 may freely rotate upon the shaft II of the pump while the element I0 is keyed thereto. A fork-shaped operating arm I2 may be used to shift the element I0 upon the shaft II and such fork I2 may be operated from any convenient position by the operator of the vehicle.

The container for the fiuid, which is preferably oil, is shown at I! and such container is connected by the pipe line I4 with the valve 5 as shown particularly in Figure 2. The rotary pump I is also connected to the valve 5 by means of the pipe lines I5 and I5. Also extending from the valve 5 are the pipe lines or conduits II and I8 which extend rearwardly to the operating cylinders I9 and 28 for raising the top.

with regard to the top raising construction it will be understood that only one set of fittings are shown and hereafter described but that two sets are employed one on each side of the vehicle body. The operating cylinders IS on each side of the vehicle body are operated in unison and the same applies to the cylinders 20. By the admission of oil under pressure through the conduits I1 and I8 the plungers in the cylinders I9 and 20 are operated so as to raise the top. The distribution of the oil under pressure is controlled by manipulating the handle 6 of the valve 5 to the various positions shown in Figures 2*, 2 and 2.

The valve 5 has as outlined above the conduits II, I5, IB, I1 and I8 connected to the outer fixed shell and which communicate with corresponding bores provided in such shell. At the center of the valve as shown more particularly in Figure 9 there is a cylindrical rotating portion 2i which is provided with a T-shaped port 22 having three outlets and an annular port 23 having two outlets which are designed to cooperate with the bores provided in the fixed portion of the valve to which the conduits I5 to I8 are connected. In order to raise the top the valve is first manipulated by the operating member 6 to the position-shown in Figure -2' and when the valve is in this position oil will be drawn from the reservoir I3 to the conduit I4 to the inlet conduit I5 for the pump then through the outlet conduit I6 from the pump and supplied to the conduit I8 under pressure whereby the operating cylinder 20 is set into operation. The valve is then turned to the position shown in Figure 2 by the operating handle 6 and when the valve is in this position the oil will be supplied from the reservoir I3 through the conduit I4 to the inlet conduit I5 to the outlet conduit I6 and then supplied to the T-shaped port 22 to both of the conduits I1 and I8 which will thereby supply oil under pressure to the operating cylinders I9 and 20.

Thereafter when the top has been raised to the proper position the valve is turned to the position shown in Figure 2 and in such position it will be noted that oil from the cylinders I9 and 20 is drawn back through the conduits I1 and I8 through the T-shaped bore 22 to the inlet conduit I5 of the pump ant. then forced through the outlet conduit I6 through the annular port 23 of the valve to the conduit ll leading to the reservoir I3. In such position of the valve the cylinders I9 and 20 are quickly evacuated of the oil therein.

If the pump 1 is directly coupled to the engine so that it is in operation at all times when the engine is in operation then the valve 5 may be left in the position shown in Figure 2 since the rotating portion of the pump will, after the operating cylinders I9 and 20 have been evacuated, only operate upon air and no damage will be done and the wear upon the rotary pump is negligible.

If desired however the valve may be turned to the position shown in Figure 2 wherein a closed circuit is set up and in such case the rotary pump will continuously drive the oil around in a closed circuit. In Figure 2 the conduits I1 and I8 are connected by the annular port 23 thereby closing such conduits. At the same time the conduits [4, I5 and I5 are connected by the T-shaped bore 22 so that as the pump draws oil along the inlet. conduit I5 such oil is merely circulated through the closed path I5, the pump 1, the outlet conduit I6 and the T-shaped bore 22. Oil is supplied from the reservoir I8 through the conduit I4 so as to keep such closed circuit constantly supplied with oil. In such a setting of the valve, which is the most efficient when the operating mechanism for the automobile top is inactive, the conduits l1 and I8 and the operating cylinders l9 and 20 are not subjected to a constant vacuum as is the case when the valve is set in the position shown in Figure 2. If the pump is connected to the engine through the medium of the clutch 8 instead of the direct connection, then in such case it is also advisable to leave the valve 5 in the position shown in Figure 2 during inactive periods. Referring to Figure 9 the central revolving portion 2| of the valve has connected thereto a shaft 24 which extends through the dashboard 4 and on this shaft 24 the handle memher 6 is fixed in any desired way. The dashboard is also provided with indicia indicating the different positions of the valve. tion 2! of the valve is held within the fixed outer shell of the valve 5 by a plate 25 which is fastened to the fixed portion through the medium of the screws 26. The plate 25 is provided with a threaded collar portion 21 which is also spaced from the shaft 24 so as to provide room for the packing 28. The packing 28is compressedthrough the medium of the collar member 29 sliding on the shaft 24 and having a beveled edge 30 tending to compress the packing against the shaft 24. The collar 29 is forced inwardly against the packing by the screw threaded collar or cap 3| which is threaded upon the member 21. A washer 32 is preferably disposed about the shaft 24 at the base of the packing 28 and a washer 33 preferably of leather is located between the fixed portion of the valve 5 and the plate 25 in order to prevent any leakage at such point.

The actual top raising construction will now be described. This comprises the operating cylinders I9 and 20 previously mentioned located at each side of the vehicle body. The top raising action comprises two separate actions. In the first place the general assembly is raised by the operating cylinders 20 to a substantially vertical position and'after such vertical position has been attained then the operating cylinders l9 come into action and extend the lazy tong construction to their extended position so that the front of the top may be secured to the windshield. The operating cylinders H are fixedly secured to the brackets 34 which in turn are secured to the central pillars 35 of the vehicle body. On the other hand the operating cylinders 20 are pivotally mounted at their bottoms by the pivot 36 to the supporting brackets 31 placed upon the floor 38 of the automobile. There is sufficient resiliency in the conduit l8 at the bend 39 so as to permit the slight tilting required by the cylinder 20. A plunger 40 is secured to the piston reciprocating in the cylinder 20 and such plunger is at its free end pivotally connected at 4| to the link 42. The link 42 is pivotally connected at 43 to the abutment 44 provided upon the upper cap 45 of the operating cylinder IS. The operating cylinder l9 is secured to the bracket 34 through the medium of the cap 45 which is secured thereto by the bolts 45.

The upper end of the link 42 is provided with a pin 41 which slides in the slot 48 of the fiange member 49 fixed to the tubular member 50.

The tubular member 50 is fixed to a collar member 5| at its lower end which in turn is provided with ears 52 which are pivoted to the ears 53 upon the cap member 45 at the pivot 54.

The operating cylinder l9 has a plunger 55 The cylindrical porconnected to the piston 58 and such plunger 55 comprises two articulated portions 58 and 51 which are pivoted together at the point 58. The construction is such that the plunger 55 will be reciprocated within the tubular member 50 when the tubular member 50 is in its upright position as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Also when the plunger 55 has been withdrawn into the cylinder 19 due to the action of the spring 59 the pivot point 58 will align with the pivot 54 and in such case the tubular member 50 together with the upper portion 51 of the plunger may be swung backwardly and collapsed into the position shown in Figure 5.

The tube 50 is provided with a longitudinal extending slot 80 in which slides one base member SI of the lazy tongs construction which is fixed by means of rivets or otherwise to the top portion of the plunger portion 51. The other base member 52 of the lazy tongs construction is fixedly secured by any desired means to the top of the tube member 50. A retraction of the plunger 55 therefore will have the effect of separating 'the base elements GI and 52 of the'lazy tongs and thereby collapsing them from the full line position shown in Figure 4 to the dotted line position shown therein. The operation of the plunger 40 of the cylinder 20 will therefore raise the lazy tongs and associated mechanism with the lazy tongs in folded position from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6. Then the operation of the plungers 55 of the cylinders l9 will bring the member 6| adjacent the member 62 and thereby extend the lazy tongs and thereby extend the top over the automobile. During the preliminary raising movement the pin 41 of the link 42 will ride in the slot 48 from the extreme right-hand position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figures 4 and 6. The above constitutes the main operating elements of the invention. Some accessory features will now be described. Also pivotally mounted upon the pivot point 54 is a bracket member 53 of the shape particularly shown in Figure 5. Such bracket member 63 has secured thereto fixedly the main bow member 64. A projecting arm 65 is also provided upon the bracket member 63 to which is pivoted the latch 66. The latch 55 cooperates with a recess 5'! provided in the central pillar 35 so that when the lazy tongs assembly reaches upright position the latch 56 will snap into the recess 61 due to the action of the spring 58 upon the arm 69 of the latch member thereby locking the lazy tongs assemblyin upright position. The arm 69, however, has a cam surface 10 which cooperates with 'a pin H upon the member 6| so that the latch 66 will not snap into the recess 61 until the plunger 55 has moved the member 6| upwardly and the pin ll releases the arm 69. When the lazy tongs are collapsed due to the action of the plunger 55 then in such case the pin 'll will release the latch 66 from the recess 61 thereby permitting the backward folding of the lazy tongs assembly.

If it is desired to maintain the lazy tongs assembly in upright position but with the lazy tongs collapsed, then the sliding bolt lock shown particularly in Figures 6, 7 and 8 may be used. This comprises a sliding bolt 12 having a projecting shoulder 13 designed to look over the member 6|. The bolt 12 cooperates with a recess 14 provided in the pillar 35. The bolt 12 is capable of up and down movement in the member 15 which is semeans to the bow member 84. Fixed to the bolt 12 is a threaded bolt 18 which slides in a slot 11 provided in the member 18. A spring 18 encircles the bolt 18 and tends to urge the bolt 12 towards the back portion 18 of the slot 88 provided in the member for the bolt 12. A wing nut II is threaded on the bolt 18. Above the member 15 there is provided on the bolt 12 a pin 82 against which the spring 88 acts which abuts at its lower end the top portion of the member 18. Normally therefore the spring 88 tends to maintain the bolt 12 out of the recess 14.

However when the lazy tongs assembly is to be locked in the so called "town car" position then the bolt 12 is pushed downwardly so as to engage the lower end thereof in the recess 14 and the upper end against the member 8| of the lazy tongs. Thereafter the wing nut 8| is tightened firmly against the member 15 and the lazy tongs will thereby be prevented from opening. In this position it will be noted that springs 18 and 88 are both in compressed position. Therefore as soon as wing nut M is loosened the bolt 12 will move upwardly due to the spring 88 and at the same time the spring 18 will come into action so as to throw the hook portion 13 clear of the member 8I thereby freeing the lazy tongs. In addition to the above locks there is also provided a lock which also cooperates with the member 8| when the lazy tongs are in their extended position. Such lock is shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 and details thereof in Figures 14 and 21. This lock comprises the latches 84 pivoted at the pivot points 85 upon the main bow 84 and are urged inwardly by the coil springs 88 also fixed upon the central bow 84. As may be seen from Figure 21 particularly the latches are of such form that when the member 8| is urged upwardly such member will act against a lower edge of the latch 84 and force it outwardly against the pressure of the spring 88 and when the member 8| reaches the position shown particularly in Figures 3 and 21 the hook-shaped portion 81 of the latch will snap under the bottom edge of the member 8| thereby locking the member ii and accordingly the lazy tongs in extended position.

In order to release the latches so as to permit collapsing of the lazy tongs each latch is provided with an extending arm 88 to which is pivotally connected the operating rods 89 which have at their overlapping central portions as shown particularly in Figure 14 rack teeth 88. The rack teeth mesh with a gear 8I provided with an operating handle 82. Upon rotation of the handle 82 in clockwise direction as shown in Figure 14 the latches 84 will be pivoted upon the pivot points 85 against the action of the spring 88 and the member 8| will be released from the latches so that the lazy tongs may be collapsed.

The lazy tongs construction comprises the pivotally connected links 88 which in turn have one of their ends pivoted to the members SI and 82, the pivotally connected links 84 which have one of their ends connected to the free ends of the links 88 and the pivotally connected links 85 and 88 which have their free ends in turn pivotally connected to the free ends of the links 84. The link 88 is in reality only a half a link while the link 88 extends forwardly beyond the pivot point between the links 85 and 86 and has its free end connected to the bar 81 constituting the forward end of the top. The bar 81 .has secured thereto spaced eyelet blocks 98 shown particularly in Figures 3, 11 and 13. The blocks 88 are secured to the bar 81 by the screws 88 or any other suitable fastening means. Each block 88 is provided with a transversely extending aperture I88, which is conically shaped and flares in the direction towards the center of the car as shown particularly in Figure 11.

Mounted upon the upper border of the windshield 2 are the transversely extending locking bars I8I. The ends of the bars I8I are tapered as shown at I82 of Figure 11. Bearings for the rods I8I are provided at I88 and also at the central portion. The overlapping inwardly directed ends I84 ofthe bearings I8I are provided with rack teeth I88 with which cooperates a gear member I88 which is operated by the handle member I81. Upon rotation of the handle I81 in a clockwise direction as is clearly evident from Figure 12 the bars I8I will have their outer ends I82 retracted inwardly and will thereby release the same from the eyelet blocks 88 and upon withdrawal of the rods I8I from the slots I88 the forward bar 81 of the top construction is entirely released from the windshield thereby permitting a collapsing of the top. A locking of the bar 81 to the windshield follows the reverse order.

Instead of the usual bow construction extending entirely across the vehicle top a series of partial bows are used. Extending from the forward end of one of the links 94 there is an extension I88. This extension I88 is shown particularly in Figures 17 and 18. The partial bow has a flattened portion I88 provided with apertures H8 for the reception of screws or other securing means for attaching the extension to the link 84. At the free end there is provided an inwardly extending portion I II. This extension is mainly designed for throwing the fabric covering clear of the lazy tongs construction so as to positively prevent any pinching thereof by the lazy tongs.

Extending from one of the links 88 is a partial bow extension H2. This extension H2 is shown particularly in Figures 19 and 20 and comprises a flattened portion H8 having screw receiving apertures H4 for attaching the same to the link 88. The portion of the extension H2 extending from the flattened portion H3 is curved in the manner shown at H8 in Figures 19 and 20. This extension serves not only to throw the fabric clear of the lazy tongs but also serves as a support for the fabric when the lazy tongs' are in extended position.

In addition to these extensions I88 and H2 there is also provided the extension H8 located at the top of the tubes 58. The extension II 8 is of the form shown in Figures 15 and 16 and comprises the flattened portion H1 having the screw apertures H8 therein which may accommodate bolts if desired for securing the extension H8 to the tubes 58. The free ends of the extensions I I8 are formed as shown at I I8 in Figures 15 and 18. This extension serves to throw the fabric clear of the lazy tongs and prevent pinching and pass the fabric efliciently behind the rear seat with appropriate folding thereof.

There is also provided in the top construction the usual back bow I28 pivoted at I2I to the side frame of the vehicle or at any other point desired. Pivoted to this back bow I28 is the supplementary bow I22. There is no operating mechanism provided for positively operating the bows I28 and I22. The reason for this is that as the lazy assembly is raised from a collapsed position then in such case the fabric itself will act as a power means for raising the back bow I28 and the supplementary bow I22. Upon a collapse of the top construction gravity will bring the back bow I20 and the supplementary bow I22 to the collapsed position.

The fabric top covering is indicated at I23 and is secured to the tonneau I24 in any desired manner and is secured to the forward bar 91 in any desired manner such as by tacking, adhesives, etc.

It is believed that the operation of the device is self-evident from the above description. Upon placing the valve in the position shown in Figure 2 the plungers 40 are operated and the lazy tongs assembly is brought into upright position and then when such assembly is in upright position the valve 5 is turned to the position shown in Figure 2 and in such case the plungers 55 are operated so as to extend the lazy tongs. Then the valve 5 is placed in the position shown in Figure 2 so as to evacuate the oil from the operating cylinders I9 and 20. Such positioning of the valve in order to secure evacuation of the cylinders I9 and is, however, not done until after the latches 04 have snapped into position so as to lock the lazy tongs in extended position and the forward bar has been secured to the windshield 2 by means of the locking bars IM and the cooperating sockets 98. After such locking of the top structure then the cylinders I9 and 20 are evacuated by placing the valve in the position shown in Figure 2. After the cylinders I9 and 20 have been evacuated, which takes an exceedingly short time the valve may be, if desired, left in the position of Figure 2, or is preferably placed in the position shown in Figure 2 in which case a closed circuit of oil is set up as previously described. The pumps 1 may be disconnected from the rotating engine part by the clutch 8 if desired.

A preliminary automatic locking of the lazy tongs assembly in upright position is accomplished through the medium of the latch 66. The latch 66 requires no manual operation since its operation is entirely automatic.

An exact synchronization of the operation of the valve 5 with the operation of the lazy tongs assembly is not particularly necessary since if the valve 5 should be turned into the position shown in Figure 2 before the tube 50 and associated parts has reached the upright position shown in Figure 1 then in such case the plunger 55 would not be operated since it would be locked in position due to the pivotal connection between the plunger elements 56 and 51 at 58. However pressure would not be built up in the cylinder I9 due to the fact that such pressure is being relieved by the operation of the plunger 40 and as soon as the tube 50 is in upright position and the plunger elements 56 and 51 are aligned then in such case the plunger 55 may operate for extending the lazy tongs. Therefore as apparent the preliminary position of the valve as shown in Figure 2 may be eliminated and the valve placed originally in the position shown in Figure 2. It is also possible to merely have two positions of the valve, that shown in Figure 2 which will operate in the manner indicated above and the evacuation position shown in Figure 2. However the other positions are desirable in order to secure efficient operation and to prevent strain upon the various parts.

The modification shown in Figures 22 to 28 will now be described. The construction shown in these figures is essentially the same as that shown in Figure 1 but instead of the link 42 cooperating with the plunger 40 there is provided in this modification an arc-shaped cam track I25, which cooperates with a roller I fixed to the plunger 40. The operating cylinder 20 is in this case fixedly secured to the fioor 39 by the plate I21. The arc-shaped cam track fixedly secured to the tube 50 in the position indicated and in this case the cylinder 20 may also be fixedly secured to the cylinder I9 by the bracket I28. The operation is believed to be selfevident from the showing particularly in Figure 23 where the extended position of the lazy tongs assembly is shown in full lines while the collapsed position is shown in dotted lines.

In this modification instead of one valve controlling the entire operation there is provided 2 valves upon the dashboard 4 as valves I29 and I30. Valve I29 is a four-way valve as shown particularly in Figures 25 and 26 and valve I is a three-way valve as shown in Figures 27 and 28. The connections are as follows and as shown particularly in Figure 22. A conduit I3I leads from the oil reservoir I3 to one port of the valve I29. A pump inlet conduit I32 is connected to another port of the valve I29. A third port of the valve I29 is connected by conduit I33 to the outlet port of the pump I. The fourth port of the valve I29 is connected by conduit I34 to a port in the three-way valve I30. The other two ports of the three-way valve I30 are connected by conduits I and I36 with the operating cylinders I9 and 20 respectively. The valves I29 and I30 are generally constructed in the same manner as the previously described valve 5 and are equipped with appropriate operating handles and indicia. The four-way valve is only turned into two positions and in order to control the same there is provided a pin and slot construction I31. The same applies to the three-way valve, which is therefore also provided with a pin and slot construction I38 for likewise limiting the two positions in which the valves may be placed.

The control of the oil pressure as applied to the cylinders I9 and 20 in this modification is as follows. When conduit I3l is connected with conduit I32 and conduit I34 is connected with conduit I33 by the four-way valve I29 and conduit I34 is connected to both of the conduits I35 and I36 by the three-way valve then in such case pressure will be supplied to the cylinders I9 and 20 and the lazy tongs assembly will be raised. However an actuation of the cyinders I9 and 29 may be accomplished in sequence by proper manipulation of the three-way valve I30 and an evacuation of the cylinders I9 and 20 may be accomplished by a reversal of flow through the various conduits controlled by the four-way valve I29. By manipulat ng the two valves I29 and I30 a variety of operations may be secured.

The operation of the above construction is esvsentially similar to the previous modification.

The various locking features as well as the prevention of the pinching of the canvas top is also present in th s modification.

In the modification of the operating cylinders illustrated in Figures 29 and 30 the cylinder casing is shown at I40 in which reciprocates a plunger I4l having secured thereto at its end a plate I42. The top of the cylinder is closed by the cap mounted upon the bracket 34 which in turn is secured to the pillar 35. Extending between the plate I42 and the cap 45 is the spring I43. The plate I42 is provided with a series of notches I44 about the periphery thereof.

Below the plate I42 in the cylinder I 40 is an upright floating piston indicated generally by the reference character I45. This floating piston I25 is.

comprises a main body I and the washers I41 placed upon opposite sides of the body I. The washers are preferably made of leather. The washers I" and the main body I48 are apertured so as to receive the bolt Ill. The head I48 0! the bolt is disposed on the side towards the plate I42 and secures one of the washers I" against the body I48. The bolt I48 is threaded at its other end and receives the nut I50. The threaded portion I5I oi the bolt is sufliciently long so as to serve as a stop and prevent the floating pston from blocking the feed p pe I52 for the oil. The feed pipe I52 corresponds to any one of the conduits II, I8, I35 and I36.

A metallic washer I53 is inserted between the lower leather washer I41 and the nut I58. If desired a metallic washer may be interposed between the head I 48 of the bolt and the upper leather washer I".

With the construction just described the floating piston I45 will move upwardly and downwardly on the same level with the oil and thereby avoid any formation of a vacuum. The notches .n the plaie I42 permit the air to circulate ireely upon both sides of the plate. The construction will not only make it easier to draw out the oil from the cyinders but will also make the operation of lowering the top easier because the plunger rod MI, which corresponds to any of the plunger rods 40 and 55, may reciprocate easily in the cy inder.

In Figure 7* there is illustrated a modified construction which may take the place of the pump, the operating mechanism for the pump and the reservoir. Such modification comprises what is termed a master cylinder and has a cylinder I55 having a nipple I58 at the bottom thereof to which the conduits leading to the operating cylinders may be directly connected. The cylinder I55 is closed at the end opposite to the nipple I58 by a plate I51 having a threaded aperture therein through which extends the threaded plunger I58. The end of the plunger within the cylinder I55 has secured thereto the piston I59 having'the usual leather washers I80. A coupling member I6I comprising a socket I62 and a threaded end I53 is preferably used for securing the piston to the inner end of the plunger I58. A nut I84 clamps the plates I65 about the leather washers I80.

The other end of the plunger I58 has secured thereto a pin I68 which slides in the diagrammatically opposed slots I51 of the sleeve member I58. The sleeve member IE8 is operated by means 01' a reversible motor not shown and which is connected to one end of the sleeve I88. As will be noted a rotation of the sleeve I68 will cause a rotation of the plunger I58 and a motion inwardly or outwardly of the piston attached to the plunger within the cylinder I55. In this manner the fluid preferably 011 is placed under pressure and forced to the operating cylinders or such fluid is withdrawn by suction from the operating cylinders. The construction shown in Figure 7 constitutes a simplified construction for operating the operated cylinders and thereby raising the top.

It is understood that the modifications above described are preferred constructions and should not be interpreted as limiting the invention.

I claim:

1. A top for an automobile and the like comprising a lazy tong device, means for extending said lazy tong device, said means comprising a cylindrical casing, a plunger reciprocating in said casing, a plate fixed to the end of said plunger within said casing, means upon said plate permitting a tree passage of air to either side thereof, a floating piston positioned below said plate and an inlet upon said casing through which oil under pressure may be supplied to said casing.

2. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said bodyto swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carryins said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, separate means for locking said lazy tong construction at each end in its extended position, means for pivoting said bar and means for automatically locking said bar when in substantially vertical position.

3. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position car rying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, means for pivoting said bar, and a pivoted latch connected to said bar for automatically locking said bar when in substantially vertical position.

4. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, separate means for locking said lazy tong construction at each end in its extended position, means for pivoting said bar, and manually operated means connected to said bar for locking said bar when in substan tially vertical position.

5. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a tube pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, a fluid operated plunger for extending said lazy tong construction reciprocating in said tube, said plunger having articulated portions, a piston connected to said plunger, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, a pivoted link connecting said tube and said cylinder and a second fluid operated plunger coacting with said link to swing said tube from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position.

6. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a tube pivoted to said body to swing from substan tially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, a fluid operated plunger for extending said lazy tong construction reciprocating in said tube, said plunger having articulated portions, 2. piston connected to said plunger, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, an arc shaped cam track mounted upon said tube and a second fiuid operated plunger coacting with said cam track to swing said tube from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position.

'7. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, means for pivoting said bar, a bow member connected to said bar, a slidingly mounted bolt on said bow member cooperating with a fixed recess in said automobile body, resilient means normally holding said bolt out or said recess, a shoulder on said bolt cooperatlng with said lazy tong construction to loci: the same when in collapsed and vertical position and a second resilient means cooperating with said bolt to hold said shoulder normally out of contact with said lazy tong construction.

8. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, means for pivoting said bar, a pivoted latch connected to said bar for automatically locking said bar when in substantially vertical position and means upon said lazy tong construction cooperating with said'latch to render said latch inoperative when said lazy tong construction is collapsed.

9. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said construction, means for pivoting said bar, a pivoted latch connected to said bar for automatically locking said bar when in substantially vertical position, a cam surface upon said latch and a pin upon said lazy tong construction cooperating with said cam surface to render said latch inoperative when said lazy tong construction is collapsed.

10. A collapsible top for an automobile having a body comprising a lazy tong construction, a bar pivoted to said body to swing from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical position carrying said lazy tong construction, means for extending said lazy tong construction, fluid pressure means for pivoting said bar, fluid pressure means for operating said means for extending said lazy tong construction and means on said bar for automatically locking said bar when in substantially vertical position.

JERONIMO FALCON. 

